B122105 Pte Swayze, Patrick Allan enlisted for overseas duty on 19 January 1944, sailed on the SS Andy from Halifax to England on 22 November 1944 and was stationed at Camp Whitby. On 02 February 1945 he sailed for Italy, landing in Naples on 28 February. He arrived at the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada to join their transfer from the Ravenna marshes area in northern Italy, completing the regiment’s Sicilian and Italian campaign. Swayze and the battalion, as part of the 1st Canadian Division departed from Leghorn Italy, south of Genoa on 11 March, disembarking in Marseilles France on 13 March, then by truck and train to Belgium in preparation for the final liberation of Holland and for the 48th the liberation of Apeldoorn. Swayze remained with the battalion for a short period including their time at The Hague in May and then transferred from the regiment. He was in the Nijmegen area and stayed 6 months in Europe after the war’s end. He was released in Canada on 12 August 1946.
Before enlisting for overseas Swayze served in the militia in St. Catherines, Ontario for 2 years from 28 April 1942 to 18 January 1944 having joined the 10th (Res) Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery while underage. His service number with 10th Field was B408854.
After the war Swayze was a member of Legion Branch 24, VA#7383896. Swayze was born May 7, 1925 and died in St. Catherines, Ontario on June 17, 2023 at the age of 99.
